Andy Flower made sure Ronnie Irani's five-wicket haul would not count for nothing by guiding Essex to a six-wicket win and into the B&H Cup quarter-finals.

Flower hit 10 fours in an unbeaten 79 as Essex strolled to victory with more than 10 overs to spare, keeping their unbeaten record intact.

The win keeps them on top of the South division, and they are guaranteed one of two automatic qualification spots regardless of the outcome of their final zonal game against Kent on Monday.

The loss of two early wickets sent tremors through the Essex camp, but it did serve to bring two of the most prominent batsmen in world cricket together.

Flower and Nasser Hussain put on 78 runs for the third wicket before Shaun Udal trapped the England captain lbw three runs short of his half-century.

Stark contrast

But Zimbabwean Flower stayed at the crease for the duration, losing only captain Irani for three before Essex wrapped up a clearcut victory.

Irani's failure with the bat was in stark contrast to his excellent showing with the ball.

Irani took five for 28 and John Stephenson grabbed three with the visitors' batting failing to burst into life at any point.

The top score was Will Kendall's 34 not out, after the county's leading lights had failed.

Irani saw off James Hamblin and Derek Kenway early on, before Neil Johnson and John Crawley put on 42.

But by the time that duo were out to veteran medium-pacer Stephenson, the score was 78 for five and Hampshire were in big trouble.

In between times they had lost captain Robin Smith for just 15 - another Irani victim.

Andy Clarke weighed in with two wickets as all six bowlers did their captain proud.

And appropriately it was Irani who finished the job, having Alan Mullally caught behind with the last ball of his ninth over.

Essex: J P Stephenson, N Hussain, G R Napier, A Flower (Wkt), R C Irani (Capt), A Habib, A P Grayson, J M Dakin, A P Cowan, J D Middlebrook, A J Clarke.

Hampshire: J R C Hamblin, N C Johnson, D A Kenway, J P Crawley, R A Smith (Capt), W S Kendall, N Pothas (Wkt), A D Mascarenhas, S D Udal, C T Tremlett, A D Mullally.

Umpires: V A Holder and M R Benson